Seventeen percent of the state's corn had been planted by April 30, behind last year's 32% and the five-year average of 24%, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report. Last week only 2% had been planted.

Soybean planting was 6% done, near last year's 7% and the average of 4%. Last week 1% had been planted.

While continuous corn is the most common cropping sequence in southwest Nebraska, adding soybeans to a rotation could help break pest cycles. On-farm research comparing 15- and 30-inch soybean row spacing found increased yields of 4-12 bu/ac with an average 7 bu/ac increase with 15-inch rows.

With a delayed or compressed planting season, this week several growers asked whether they could immediately plant soybeans after a dicamba application. See how Extension Weed Scientist Amit Jhala replied.

Figure 1. Cereal rye planted as a cover crop in many fields is slow-growing this spring. Combining a cover crop termination and PRE application may be a valuable time-saver this year, if used correctly.

A grower asked: My cereal rye cover crop is only 3 to 5 inches tall going into planting season. Can I combine two field operations in one by applying glyphosate to terminate cereal rye and tank-mixing it with a residual herbicide for early season weed control?

The benefits of planting soybean near May 1 are well documented. Now, what are the next steps growers can take to further expand on these benefits? Are different maturity groups warranted? What groups are typically being used in irrigated and rainfed environments in Nebraska?